Retry on laws a ‘distraction’

THE resurrection of anti-protest and mandatory sentencing laws are an attempt by the Government to distract voters from its own poor performance, Labor MLC Sarah Lovell says.

The State Government on Thursday reintroduced into State Parliament tough antiprotest laws and laws requiring mandatory minimum jail sentences for paedophiles and those who assault frontline public sector workers.

The protest laws were previously overturned by the High Court, while the mandatory sentencing laws have twice failed to pass Parliament.

Ms Lovell said it was clear what the Hodgman Government was up to.

“They’re doing this as a distraction, that’s very clear,” she said.

“They do this every time they need something to distract from the fact that they are failing to deliver for Tasmanians and that they are faced with chaos.

“It’s very interesting that these Bills have now been brought before the Parliament again at the end of a parliamentary year which has been probably best described as lacklustre from this government.”

Labor would almost certainly oppose the mandatory sentencing laws, she said.

“There is no evidence that has changed since those Bills were last introduced and I would expect that most members of parliament who have voted against this legislation a number of times now will feel the same way,” Ms Lovell said. She said the position was likely to be the same with the protest laws, although Labor would consult with business groups, who have endorsed the Government’s push.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said if Labor supported workers it would support the new protest Bill.

“The party that claims to be for the workers has again shown it’s only too willing to sell out hard working Tasmanians to keep their inner city Green allies happy,” Mr Barnett said.

“Labor seem to be putting the rights of protesters above the rights of workers.”

A demonstration against the protest laws will be held on Monday next week, the Bob Brown Foundation announced yesterday.